The Inside Scoop on Eco-Friendly Printing

When I was in elementary school, my art class was given an assignment to sculpt and paint a superhero made out of clay. After much deliberation, I decided that my pottery-hero would be a giant garbage bag whose mission it was to consume (and of course, RECYCLE whenever able) all of the world’s evil waste!

My eco-friendly superhero stayed a clay figurine and never did come to life. But what if he had… What planet-saving advice would he share with folks who cherish the environment (and the beauty of the woods) as much as I do?

What would he say to those tree-lovers who are hesitant to add printed pieces to their marketing strategies?

Why, he would loudly (and with a bit of halitosis —he is a GARBAGE-eating superhero, after all) confidently assure everyone, stating:

“My friends, do not give in to the misconceptions about print media. Print and paper have a fantastic story to tell. Do not fear—only 11% of cut forest trees are used by the paper industry. In fact, there are more forests in the U.S. today than there were 50 years ago. What’s more, the paper industry PLANTS THREE TIMES MORE TREES than it cuts. We’re all in good hands!”

Still not convinced? Our friends at Print Is Big have dug a little deeper into the true facts of print, and they used their findings to create this fantastic infographic:

Environmental awareness is on the rise, so it’s important for customers and marketers alike to know that paper and print industries are looking out for our planet. Paper remains one of the most recycled products in the world. The paper industry supports sustainable forest management, and most printed pieces are made from renewable energy sources.

So if you’re looking for ways to take part in responsible paper sourcing,independent third-party certification is a great way to ensure that the paper you use comes from responsibly managed forests.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative has a searchable database to help you find forest products (like paper) that demonstrate your corporate social responsibility.

Another innovative approach to “greening up” your print-based marketing is to use seed paper: It has seeds embedded right inside it. When your recipient is done reading your message, they can plant the seed paper and your marketing piece turns into FLOWERS, HERBS, OR VEGETABLES! Learn more in “Grow Your Business AND FLOWERS with Seed Paper.”